I assume some of the people on this mailing list will be riding their steel road bike on the Wildflower. I am also assuming that many of these have fenders and racks and lights. Are any of you planning to cut back on any of that?
I've been debating for a long time whether to ride my faster, lighter, aluminum road bike with its aerobars or to ride my much more comfortable steel touring bike. I finally decided tonight that I'll take the touring bike for its comfort and lower gearing (yeah, I'm a wimp, I know!) I actually weighed it without all of the bags and batteries on it (that's rare) and it was much lighter than I remembered it being, only 6 lbs heavier than the road bike. That said, the fenders will add to the drag. I've done 75+ mile days on load tour in the mountains, so I know that I can do it, but I was slower than I'd like to be this Sunday.
Rex, I know that Gino will be riding with fenders and he swears that
it doesn't have any effect on speed, especially on a casual cruise
like the Wildflower. I rode my steely with fenders last year because
of the weather and I'm glad I did. Besides, why do you need aerobars
to climb Honey Run? ;-)
I will probably be in full ERRB(Elitist Road Racer Bastard) gear that
day riding my carbon Trek in my Chico Corsa Racing Club kit but I
think I'll leave the aero helmet at home.
Jeff
On Apr 23, 9:48 pm, "Rex Kerr" <rexk...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I assume some of the people on this mailing list will be riding their
> steel road bike on the Wildflower. I am also assuming that many of
> these have fenders and racks and lights. Are any of you planning to
> cut back on any of that?
> I've been debating for a long time whether to ride my faster, lighter,
> aluminum road bike with its aerobars or to ride my much more
> comfortable steel touring bike. I finally decided tonight that I'll
> take the touring bike for its comfort and lower gearing (yeah, I'm a
> wimp, I know!) I actually weighed it without all of the bags and
> batteries on it (that's rare) and it was much lighter than I
> remembered it being, only 6 lbs heavier than the road bike. That
> said, the fenders will add to the drag. I've done 75+ mile days on
> load tour in the mountains, so I know that I can do it, but I was
> slower than I'd like to be this Sunday.
Fenders actually reduce drag. Jan heine of bicycle quarterly has an article about it that Gino mentioned a while back. I'll look for a link when I get to a computer unless Gino reads this and beats me to the punch.
Tony Rocha
On Apr 24, 2008, at 6:11 AM, ochsride <jnko...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Rex, I know that Gino will be riding with fenders and he swears that > it doesn't have any effect on speed, especially on a casual cruise > like the Wildflower. I rode my steely with fenders last year because > of the weather and I'm glad I did. Besides, why do you need aerobars > to climb Honey Run? ;-)
> I will probably be in full ERRB(Elitist Road Racer Bastard) gear that > day riding my carbon Trek in my Chico Corsa Racing Club kit but I > think I'll leave the aero helmet at home.
> Jeff
> On Apr 23, 9:48 pm, "Rex Kerr" <rexk...@gmail.com> wrote: >> I assume some of the people on this mailing list will be riding their >> steel road bike on the Wildflower. I am also assuming that many of >> these have fenders and racks and lights. Are any of you planning to >> cut back on any of that?
>> I've been debating for a long time whether to ride my faster, >> lighter, >> aluminum road bike with its aerobars or to ride my much more >> comfortable steel touring bike. I finally decided tonight that I'll >> take the touring bike for its comfort and lower gearing (yeah, I'm a >> wimp, I know!) I actually weighed it without all of the bags and >> batteries on it (that's rare) and it was much lighter than I >> remembered it being, only 6 lbs heavier than the road bike. That >> said, the fenders will add to the drag. I've done 75+ mile days on >> load tour in the mountains, so I know that I can do it, but I was >> slower than I'd like to be this Sunday.
I find that a bit difficult to swallow, but I'll be anxiously awaiting the link. :-) I rode to work this morning (~10 miles) on the aforementioned touring bike w/ fenders, racks, bags, lights, and wide tires (that I forgot to check the pressure on after a week of riding the other bike) and it sure was comfortable -- and not really any slower. I think I've made my decision.
PS: Can the list be set to reply to group rather than reply to author? I keep messing up!
On Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 6:43 AM, Tony Rocha <aero...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Fenders actually reduce drag. Jan heine of bicycle quarterly has an > article about it that Gino mentioned a while back. I'll look for a > link when I get to a computer unless Gino reads this and beats me to > the punch.
I must apologize because I actually read the article in a magazine for which there is no internet published equivalent. I think I have the issue at home which I can lend you to read. I believe it's in *Vol. 2, No. 1 (Autumn 2003) of Bicycle Quarterly.*
On Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 9:11 AM, Rex Kerr <rexk...@gmail.com> wrote: > I find that a bit difficult to swallow, but I'll be anxiously awaiting the > link. :-) > I rode to work this morning (~10 miles) on the aforementioned touring bike > w/ fenders, racks, bags, lights, and wide tires (that I forgot to check the > pressure on after a week of riding the other bike) and it sure was > comfortable -- and not really any slower. I think I've made my decision.
> PS: Can the list be set to reply to group rather than reply to author? I > keep messing up!
> On Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 6:43 AM, Tony Rocha <aero...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Fenders actually reduce drag. Jan heine of bicycle quarterly has an >> article about it that Gino mentioned a while back. I'll look for a >> link when I get to a computer unless Gino reads this and beats me to >> the punch.
:-) That's OK. I'm actually not in Chico much these days (mostly just weekends), so I'll have to pass on your offer, but I did do some Google searching and found people discussing the article on various forums.
On 4/24/08, Antonio Rocha <aero...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I must apologize because I actually read the article in a magazine for > which there is no internet published equivalent. I think I have the issue at > home which I can lend you to read. I believe it's in *Vol. 2, No. 1 > (Autumn 2003) of Bicycle Quarterly.*
> On Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 9:11 AM, Rex Kerr <rexk...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I find that a bit difficult to swallow, but I'll be anxiously awaiting the >> link. :-) >> I rode to work this morning (~10 miles) on the aforementioned touring bike >> w/ fenders, racks, bags, lights, and wide tires (that I forgot to check the >> pressure on after a week of riding the other bike) and it sure was >> comfortable -- and not really any slower. I think I've made my decision.
>> PS: Can the list be set to reply to group rather than reply to author? I >> keep messing up!
>> On Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 6:43 AM, Tony Rocha <aero...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Fenders actually reduce drag. Jan heine of bicycle quarterly has an >>> article about it that Gino mentioned a while back. I'll look for a >>> link when I get to a computer unless Gino reads this and beats me to >>> the punch.
Properly installed fenders may reduce aerodynamic resistance. Why do you think they're banned from racing? Why do motorcycles and race cars use fenders? Because they reduce aerodynamic drag, when installed properly.
Essentially, it goes like this:
The tire tread at the top of the front wheel moves at twice the speed of the bicycle. Shielding the tread from oncoming air with a fender can improve aerodynamics. The improvement comes from the portion of the fender that extends forward of the fork crown; the portion behind the crown can actually increase aerodynamic drag. Mudflap increases it more.
Granted, this is a small efficiency, and you can gain much more by lowering your stem 20mm, wearing non-baggy clothing, and by using tires that have very low rolling resistance. Rider position and low rolling resistance make the biggest difference. That, and overall comfort. You can't put out a lot of power over a long period of time if you aren't comfy.
And only then, these things matter if speed is your goal. On a touring bike with racks, lights, panniers, or on a ride like the Wildflower, I prefer the sights, smells, sounds, conversation and things I find to eat to be the goal. :-)
On Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 9:48 PM, Rex Kerr <rexk...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I assume some of the people on this mailing list will be riding their > steel road bike on the Wildflower. I am also assuming that many of > these have fenders and racks and lights. Are any of you planning to > cut back on any of that?
> I've been debating for a long time whether to ride my faster, lighter, > aluminum road bike with its aerobars or to ride my much more > comfortable steel touring bike. I finally decided tonight that I'll > take the touring bike for its comfort and lower gearing (yeah, I'm a > wimp, I know!) I actually weighed it without all of the bags and > batteries on it (that's rare) and it was much lighter than I > remembered it being, only 6 lbs heavier than the road bike. That > said, the fenders will add to the drag. I've done 75+ mile days on > load tour in the mountains, so I know that I can do it, but I was > slower than I'd like to be this Sunday.
I haven't met most of you yet, but this group's "style" fits me. Anyway I have been having some left knee problems lately. ( First time ever, so I am bummed) and will not be riding in the Wildflower. However if I am up to it. I will be riding out to the lunch stop and helping with that. So come find me and say hi. I ride a green Soma Smoothie.
Tim Carpenter
________________________________
From: chicowheelmen@googlegroups.com [mailto:chicowheelmen@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Gino Zahnd Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 10:41 AM To: Rex Kerr Cc: Tony Rocha; ochsride; Chico Wheelmen Touring Club Subject: [Chico Wheelmen] Re: The Wildflower and fenders?
done.
On Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 9:11 AM, Rex Kerr <rexk...@gmail.com> wrote:
PS: Can the list be set to reply to group rather than reply to author? I keep messing up!
----- Original Message ---- From: "tim.carpen...@syngenta.com" <tim.carpen...@syngenta.com> To: chicowheelmen@googlegroups.com; rexk...@gmail.com
Cc: aero...@gmail.com; jnko...@yahoo.com Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 8:15:20 AM Subject: [Chico Wheelmen] Re: The Wildflower and fenders?
I haven't met most of you yet, but this group's "style" fits me. Anyway I have been having some left knee problems lately. ( First time ever, so I am bummed) and will not be riding in the Wildflower. However if I am up to it. I will be riding out to the lunch stop and helping with that. So come find me and say hi. I ride a green Soma Smoothie.
Tim Carpenter
________________________________ From: chicowheelmen@googlegroups.com [mailto:chicowheelmen@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Gino Zahnd Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 10:41 AM To: Rex Kerr Cc: Tony Rocha; ochsride; Chico Wheelmen Touring Club Subject: [Chico Wheelmen] Re: The Wildflower and fenders?
done.
On Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 9:11 AM, Rex Kerr <rexk...@gmail.com> wrote:
PS: Can the list be set to reply to group rather than reply to author? I keep messing up!
